The study indicates a prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in the Taiwanese population comparable to that in western populations, showing that nocturnal enuresis is an international problem that should be considered seriously. Findings of familial factors associated with nocturnal enuresis provide a clue for future studies of psychosocial factors in different cultural societies and their intervention.

To investigate the relationship between age and renal vascular resistance and to establish normative data of the systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), pulsatility index (PI), and resistant index (RI) of the renal artery in the normal pediatric population, we studied 252 normal children aged newborn to 13 years (a total of 449 kidneys) with a color Doppler unit. After the normality of the kidney was established, color flow mapping was performed to localize the segmental portion of the renal artery. Flow velocity waveforms were then obtained by pulsed Doppler, and S/D ratio, PI, and RI were calculated. Multiple regression analysis confirmed the age dependence of the S/D ratio, PI, and RI of the renal artery in normal children. Renal vascular resistance continuously declines after birth and stabilizes at the age of 102-130 months. Normative data for S/D ratio, PI, and RI of the renal artery in normal children were established for each age group. Since renal vascular resistance decreases with age and stabilizes at 8-10 years, we suggest using different normal ranges for each age group when studying renal vascular resistance in pediatric patients.

From April 1993 to December 1997, 452 admissions of 231 children with nephrotic syndrome to Chang Gung Children's Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 10 episodes of sepsis and 8 episodes of peritonitis in 18 children, and 14 microorganisms were cultured. Two children died due to Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis. Gram-positive microorganisms (n=7) and Gram-negative microorganisms (n=7) were found in equal numbers. Enterococcus (1), Streptococcus pneumoniae (4), group D streptococcus (1), and Streptococcus viridans (1) were the Gram-positive microorganisms cultured. Two of 4 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis were penicillin resistant. Gram-negative microorganisms included Enterobacter cloacae (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1), Escherichia coli (2), Acinetobacter baumannii (1), Neisseria meningitidis (1), and group B salmonella (1). The last three microorganisms have not been previously associated with nephrotic children. Vancomycin therapy to cover penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and a third-generation cephalosporin therapy to cover rare Gram-negative microorganisms should be considered in serious infections of nephrotic children.

The study indicates a prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in the Taiwanese population comparable to that in western populations, showing that nocturnal enuresis is an international problem that should be considered seriously. Findings of familial factors associated with nocturnal enuresis provide a clue for future studies of psychosocial factors in different cultural societies and their intervention.